Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-03
COMPOSING ROOM HUMOR.

Jokes Of Comps and Foremen--A Few
Which Give an Idea Of the Flow Of WI,
and WISDOM.
Brooklyn Times: just as much of q
humorous character as has ever been
gathered together and published by
funny men, graduates from compos.
Ing rooms has been kept from the col
unlns OF newspapers, because after the
laugh the jokes created, they have
been almost forgotten. But 4 few OF
the decidedly rich things that have been
'got OFF, in composing rooms by the
men who have regulations in their
sphere as workmen, are well worth re-
cording.
While n well-known foreman Of the
New York Post composing room
welded authority there some twenty
years ago he now having Il post at a
foreign station under the government
he was accredited with running the
Office with a shorter allowance of type
than any other man as foreman would
have thought possible, Or would have
had the temerity 10 do. He was CON
stantly besieged for ''sorts," and his
policy was the occasion of much vitu.
peration piled upon his head-when ne
was not present. On n day II sub
in the Office WAS seen toward the end
Of composition hours, crawling about
the floor and picking up type. He was
asked by the joker of the room:
what are you doing, Jack?"
81 IN trying to get type enough to
finish thus take; that's what I'm do
ing" said he, in rather u disgusted
tone.
"Well. what sorts do you want?
WHAT are you short off"
81 wan some h's."
AGO over there under No. 1915 frame.
He's an Engiishman. He drops them
was the comforting reply.
This same foreman was somewhat
particular as to the care displayed in
setting type, and was very much per-
picked at any time if Il bad division
was made, an oflense in any Office, rs
u matter of fact. A comp" new to
the office had. on lis first days work,
divided the word tongue, doing it thus
TONGUE. The proof on which it
occurred came under tho ''old mans"
eye. and as the slug gave the per
petratrator away, ne went for him
thus:
What have you got in your mouth?'
thinking to gain y point on the comp
by his answering and pronouncing the
offending word correctly.
..Heyp"
"What have you IN your mouth,
sirp"
''Terbacky, sor,'' was the paralyzing
answer and the foreman, although
..knocked ont" retired to d corner
himself to indulge ia the general laugh
that ensued.
A well known foreman of a large
New York composing although
austere inside the office and favoring
nobody, and n decidedly good fellow
outside-was very fond OF 4 good joke,
winch usually partook of a rather prac-
teal nature. Some years ago a
chapel" meeting was held on the ques-
ton Of having too many compositors
on the paper, and a committee Of six
were appointed to wait upon the fore
man and try to get him to consent to
reduce the force. A gentleman who is
still well known among New York
printers was chosen rs chairman of
the committee and spokesman, and he
aud his associates waited upon the sold
man." saying that if the force were re-
duced those remaining could make a
a decent living, when the following
colloquy took place:
How many too many men do you
think are on the paper?"
ave have considered the matter
and think six is about the number
The foreman glanced with n twinkle
in his eye from one end of the COM
mittee line to the other, and said, with
n wave of tho hand across: s'Well
yon six can co." and they were dis
charged.